Improvement in toupees



N. 'HELMER Toupe.

Patented May 20, 1879.

MPEERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAUHER, WASHINGYON, D CA UNITED STATIIsPAIENI' OFFICE.

NICOLAS HELMER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO BARBARA HELMER AND CONRAD GLUTH, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN TOUPEES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 215,518, dated May 20, 1879; application filed January 4, 1879.

To all whom it may concern: Y

Beit known that I, NIcoLAs HELMER, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented Improvements in the Manufacture of Wigs and Toupees, of which the following is the specification. Y

My invention has for its object to avoid the delays and expense incident to ordinary modes of making wigs and toupees, to iit the same with facility, and retain the article better upon the head `and secure a more natural appearance than with Wigs of ordinary manufacture.

In the drawings forming part of .this specification, Figure l illustrates one of the wigframes; Fig. 2, the mode of making the same; Figs. 3 and 4, transverse section, showing the mode of applying the flexible edging to the frames, Fig. 5, a view, showing the mode of securing the parts together; and Figs. 6 and 7, the wig-frame complete in dilferent forms. In order to secure a perfect flt to the head, I make the support of a frame or frames of Wire, preferably in sections a., each adapted to the portion of the head upon which it is torest. As these frames must be of various shapes and sizes, I make them readily and expeditiously by means of blocks B and pins b. The pins may be driven into the block; but it is preferable to have holes closely perforated over the' face ofthe block, and to use detachable pins, round which the Wire c is bent into the frame of any shape, according to the arrangement ot the pins. The ends of the wires are bent into rings or loops c, for a purpose described hereinafter.

In order to secure a thin yielding but iirm hem or edge to which to connect the hair-net, the frame c is covered by a fine silk ribbon, g, so applied as to present an extended edge, i, of a single thickness. The single ribbon may be folded round the frame, as in Fig. 3, and sewed at the inner edge; or a Wide and a narrow ribbon may be sewed together, with the wire between, Fig. 4. In each case the single selvage extends beyond the frame, and is thin, iexible, strong, and lies closely to the head. y

In order to secure a rm connection of all the frames, and also to arrange several frames properly in a single wig or toupee, Without any rigid connection, each frame is connected to the other or others by a thin ribbon or ribbons, g, which are flexible and lie close to the scalp, hold the frames in proper position, and permit any desired adjustment.

To avoid the protuberances and insecure connections resulting from sewing the ribbons to each other and to the frames, I use eyelets h, each of which is inserted through the eye e of the frame and through the ribbon or hem beneath, Figs. 5 and 6, and then attened.

To secure the frames thus connected (or the frame G, made in any shape) properly upon the head, I secure or extend one or more Wires ofthe frame to form pins or hooks m, Figs. 7 and 8, which Will extend "under the natural hair, or clasp the head, or behind the ear, thus securing a iirin hold, which may be made more elastic by bending the wire to form a spring, n, at any suitable point; and the hold is further improved Vby forming the ends of the hooks into knobs s, which catch in the hair.

' I claim as my invention- 1. As an improvement in the manufacture ot' wigs and toupees, the within-described mode of constructing frames, which consists in iirst bending Wires upon pins projecting froma block, then covering and uniting the frames thus lnade, and then securing the hair fabric thereto, as set forth.

2. The wigframe consisting of independent frames a., connected by ribbons g, as specied.

3. The Wig frame consisting of covered frames a, of Wire,` bent to form eyes c, united to each other and to connecting-ribbons by eyelets l1, passing through the eyes and through the ribbons, as speciliell.

4. The combination, with the frames, of rib-.

bons applied toleave a projecting edge, i, of a single thickness, as set forth.

5. The said frame or frames provided with ribbon binding or covering', and extended beyond the same inA the form of pins or hooks m, for the purpose specified.

6. The combination of the frame-hooks and spring n, as set forth. In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

NICOLAS HELMER.

Witnesses EDWARD WALSH, J r., EVERETT B. WALSH. 

